The Home Minister questioned the date chosen for the INDIA bloc protest and raised concerns about its possible impact on Delhi’s festive-season business.
Shah Challenges the Choice of Date
Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticised the Congress over the INDIA bloc’s decision to hold its Delhi rally on November 1, the anniversary associated with the 1984 anti-Sikh violence. Speaking at an event in Chandigarh, Shah said the date was painful for families affected by the violence and accused the Congress leadership of disregarding their feelings.
The opposition rally at Ramlila Maidan was organised to protest alleged irregularities in electoral rolls and the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.
1984 Violence Becomes the Focus
Shah referred to the violence that followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984, recalling the deaths and suffering experienced by Sikh families. He also invoked a controversial remark made by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi after the violence.
The Home Minister argued that holding a major political event on November 1 was insensitive to survivors and families who continue to remember the events.
Criticism Directed at Rahul Gandhi
Shah questioned Rahul Gandhi’s decision to proceed with the rally despite objections from the BJP. He said the party had appealed to Congress to avoid November 1, 2 and 3 because of their association with the violence.
He also contrasted the rally date with Gandhi’s ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ message, arguing that the timing was inconsistent with the Congress leader’s public emphasis on unity.
Traders’ Concerns During the Festive Period
The Home Minister also raised the potential effect of the demonstration on Delhi’s businesses during the Diwali shopping period. He said traders had asked the opposition to postpone the rally because traffic restrictions and security arrangements could affect commercial activity.
Shah referred to letters and press conferences by business organisations and cited an estimate of Rs 25,000 crore in festive trading activity. That figure and the projected impact were claims made by Shah during his address.
Questions Over Symbolic CEC Proceedings
Shah criticised the INDIA bloc’s symbolic public impeachment proceedings against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, describing the programme as a mock Parliament. He also accused opposition parties of spreading misinformation and disrupting parliamentary proceedings.
Two Competing Political Narratives
The BJP’s criticism shifted attention from the opposition’s stated concerns about electoral rolls to the historical significance of the rally date and the possible effect on traders. The INDIA bloc, meanwhile, maintained that its demonstration was about voter rights and the functioning of the Election Commission.
The exchange brought the 1984 violence and the current SIR dispute into the same political debate, with both sides continuing to defend their positions.